Sign structure



W. B. FARRELL.

Aug. 19; 1941.

5 IGN STRUCTURE Filed June 22 IN VENTOR. W LL/m1 5 EqEEELL ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN STRUCTURE William B. Farrell, Wayne, Mich. Application June 22, 194-0, Serial No. 341,788

7 Claims.

This invention relates to signs and particularly to an advertising sign which is supported in display position by flexible tensioning elements such as cords, ropes and the like.

An important object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive sign structure of the type supported by flexible elements and such a sign structure which is protected in a novel manner from damage or tearing as a result of the tension imposed 'by the supporting elements. An important object of the invention is to provide a novel reinforcement for the sign which absorbs the strains imposed thereon and which reinforcement is constructed and associated with the sign so as to be concealed from view. Another important object of this invention is to provide a reinforcement for signs which not only absorbs the forces and strains which would otherwise likely damage the sign but also stiifens portions of the sign against movement such as that caused by air currents.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following speciflcation, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a portion of a sign constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner of assembling the reinforcin strip in the sign and connecting the same to supporting tensioning elements, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of Fig. 2 along line 3-3 thereof showing the reinforcement in completely assembled condition.

The reinforcement extends between the tension supports of the sign yet is concealed from View. It is fashioned so that it lies Within the outside dimensions of the sign and substantially in the plane thereof. The reinforcement is shaped so that its main dimension will extend parallel to the plane of the sign. It is thus capable of being inconspicuously enclosed within folds of the sign.

Referring to the drawing, the sign proper is indicated at III. A fragment or right portion is illustrated in Fig. 1, it being understood that the remaining or left hand portion is constructed and supported in the same manner. The body of the sign is composed of flexible material such as textile fabric, fiber or otherwise.

The sign is usually supported in vertical or upright position but may lie in any other plane if desired. For support, flexible anchoring elements indicated at l2-l2 are generally employed. Cord, rope, tape or the like may be used for the supporting elements. Rope or cord is shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. The cords |2|2 extend along opposite sides of the sign, the margins of the latter being folded thereover as indicated. Instead of two cords extending the length of the sign and projecting from the opposite sides thereof, four separate cords each attached to a corner may be used. In either form of support the cords exert a tension or strain upon the sign particularly when the cords |2-|2 illustrated diverge away from one another to maintain the sign in taut condition in the wind.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a novel form of reinforcement whic absorbs'the strains which would otherwise be imposed on the body of the sign by the supporting elements or cords |2-l2. The novel form of reinforcement comprises a relatively flat band of metallic material preferably of relatively stiff character. The band, however, is preferably deformable under pressure so that it may be easily folded over upon itself. Such a band is desirable at each side of the sign and conmeeting the two supporting cords Il -I2 at their point of entrance into the sign. Additional bands may be stretched across the sign at intermediate points along its length, if desired.

In the drawing a metallic reinforcement of this character is indicated at M. It extends along the loose side of the sign transversely to the cords I 2I2. A similar band may be used at the other end of the sign. The ends of the band l4 are folded over the cords l2--|2 and the folded portions secured to the main body of the band in any suitable way such as by metal stitching. The reinforcing band is assembled upon the body of the sign before the cords are attached thereto. In the assembly operation the band is preferably positioned a slight distance inwardly from the side edge of the sign so that a marginal portion of the sign body can be folded over the band in the form of a hem concealing the band therewithin. This is illustrated in Fig.2. The marginal portion indicated by the reference numeral I6 is folded over the band and secured by stitching l8 to the body of the sign. A reinforcing band is similarly applied to the other side of the sign.

The body of the sign with the reinforcing metal bands therein is now ready for attachment to the supporting cords l2l2. This is -to the main body of quickly and easily accomplished by folding the sides of the sign over the cords as previously described. In the course of doing this the ends of the metal reinforcing bands are folded over the cords in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. Metal stitching 20 is suitable for securing the folded ends of the bands to their respective main body portions. Because of the flat character of the reinforcing bands and the fact that they are concealed within folds of the sign, there is no evidence when the sign is viewed from a distance of the presence of transverse metal supports for the sign.

Any tearing strain which the cords might impose on the body of the sign is taken by the metal bands. An important advantage of employing flat bendable stiffeners is found in shipping the signs after they are made. The signs can be folded into a small bundle, the flat stiffening bands being bent and folded to the desired minimum size for shipping. This does away with the necessity of cartons or additional wrapping material which would be required by rigid or semirigid stiffening members.

Another desirable feature of the structure is the fact that a fabric portion of the sign body is interposed between the metal reinforcing band and the cords l2. This provision plus the flat character of the band prevents the metal band from chafing the cords and cutting through. suf flciently far to cause the cords to break under the strains imposed. The flat character of the reinforcing band distributes. the tension over a relatively wide area in contrast to a narrow rodlike type of reinforcement.

WhatIclaim is: V

1. A sign comprising a flexible sheet, a pair of tensioning. elements extending parallel. to one another along two opposite sides of the sheet, a flat bandof bendable metal material extending transversely to said tensioning elements and en closed wholly within a fold in the sheet, marginal portions of said sheet together with the ends of said band being folded over said tension elements, and ,m eanssec uring the folded portions of the sheet and the band tothe main body portions thereof to secure the sign to the tensioning elements."

2. In combination with a sign having a pair of flexible anchoring elements extending from substantially each corner at one dimension of the sign and disposed at a distance apart to normally maintain the sign flat, a flat band of bend able metal material bridging and connecting said anchoring elements, sign folded over said metal band forming a sleevetype, hem concealing the latter from view therewithin, said hem and the band therewithin being folded about the tensioning, elements so as to interpose the marginal portion of the sign between the metal band and the. anchoring elements.

3. A sign comprising a flexible sheet, a pair of tensioning elements extending parallel to one another along two opposite sides of the sheet, a flat band ofbendable metal material extending transversely to said tensioning elements along one ofthe remaining sides of the sheet, the marginal portion along said remaining side of the sheet being. folded over said band and secured the sheet to enclose the band therewithin, the ends of said metal band a marginal portion of said and the marginal portion of the sheet enclosing the same being folded over said tensioning elements, and means securing the folded ends of the metal band and the marginal portion folded therewith to the main body of the band thus locking the band to the tensioning elements,

4. In combination with a sign having a pair of flexible anchoring elements extending from substantially each corner at one dimension of the sign and disposed at a distance apart to normally maintain the sign flat, a stiffening member bridging the space between said anchoring elements and having its ends bent around the-elements for connection thereto, a marginal portion of said sign folded over said stiffening member forming a sleeve-type hem concealing the latter from view therewithin, said hem enclosing the bent ends of the reinforcing member and interposing the material of the sign between the ends of the stiffening member and the anchoring elements.

5. In combination with a sign of fabric material having a pair of flexible anchoring elements extending from substantially each corner at one dimension of the sign and disposed at a distance apart to normally maintain the sign flat, a stiffening member bridging the space between said anchoring elements, the end portions of said stiffening member being composed of flat sheet metal material folded over said anchoring elements for connection thereto, the fabric of the sign enclosing said, stiffening member including the end portions thereof and extending between the metal material of the latter and the anchoring elements to prevent chafing of the latter.

6. A sign comprising, in combination, a sheet of fabric material forming the bodyof the sign, a pair of tensioning elements extending lengthwise of the sheet along the opposite marginal portions of the sheet, a stifiening member having a length substantially equal to the Width of the sheet and having its end portions composed of flat bendable metal material, said sheet being folded along a transverse edge to form a sleevetype of hem substantially wholly enclosing the stiffening member therewithin including the. end portions thereof, said marginal portions of said sheet along which said tensioning elements extend including the endsof the sleeve-like hem and the stiffening member therein being folded over the tensioning elements, and means extende ing through the folded portion of the hem and the stiffening member therein and the main body portions thereof fastening the parts together to secure the fabric sheet upon the tensicning elements.

'7. In combination with a sign body of fabric material having a pair of. flexible anchoring elements extending from substantially each corner at one dimension of the sign and disposed at a distance apart to normally maintain the sign flat at said dimension, a stiffening member enclosed within the fabric material of the sign and bridging the space between the anchoring elements, the ends of said stiffening member being relatively flat and being folded with the material of the sign body over said anchoring elements, said stiffening membertaking strains which would otherwise be imposed upon the material of the sign.

WILLIAM B. FARRELL. 

